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Texas Holdem is a game of
constant fluctuation. Chip stacks fly around the table like baseballs
in a Home
Run Derby. You could be up one moment and the next you're in the
gutter. It's
like the old Sinatra song: you're riding high in April, shot down in
May. The
Holdem player could rephrase the lyrics so they sound like: you're
riding high
in round two, and by round four you're out the door. This inconsistency
needs
to be balanced by switching gears during the game.
Texas Holdem
Is a Science
A player needs to adjust their playing strategy constantly in the
course of the
game if they want to survive. It's almost scientific. Think of the
process of
evolution. The key to survival for any species is to adapt to the
conditions of
their environment. A Holdem game is the poker
players environment, and
if they
can't adapt to the ever changing conditions, whether it be the
increasing of
blinds, stages of the tournament, or fluctuation of chip stacks, they
won't
survive.
It's survival of the fittest, and to stay fit you need to know how to
adapt.
Switching gears in Texas Holdem specifically refers to an abrupt change
in
strategy. If you're playing aggressive, when you switch gears it's time
to
start playing conservative.
When to Switch Gears?
When is it a good time to switch gears? There are variables to consider
when to
switch gears. The stage of the tournament is one time to switch gears.
Early,
middle, and late stages all call for a different approach to the game.
Some
like to play aggressive in the early stages while the blinds are low.
Another
time to switch gears is when the bubble approaches. The time of the
game when
the remaining players are dangerously close to placing in the money
will often
see a change in pace. The game often slows down.
Your chip stack can also
determine if you should switch gears. If you've been playing aggressive
and
you've blown threw most of your bank roll, maybe it's time to switch
gears and
come with a different strategy. Switching gears can also depend on
table
position, and it could also depend on how others are playing. Switching
gears
in Holdem is also important because it helps to confuse the
competition. A
player is very hard to read if they are constantly switching gears.
It's important
to try and throw the opposition for a loop. Any advantage you can get
in
Holdem, you will need.
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